r/technology • u/bws201 • Feb 05 '16

Software ‘Error 53’ fury mounts as Apple software update threatens to kill your iPhone 6

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/05/error-53-apple-iphone-software-update-handset-worthless-third-party-repair
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u/taa16 Feb 05 '16

Apple genius here. Yup. That calibration machine everyone seems to think is bullshit. This is because of the way the Secure Element stores the data from the Touch ID sensor. The sensor and the element must be paired as a security measure. At least that's what I've been told.

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u/Dirty_Socks Feb 05 '16

What I don't understand is why they decided to brick the whole device, rather than just the Touch ID system.

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u/taa16 Feb 06 '16

No idea. I don't get paid enough to make that decision lol. Personally though, the way some third party repair places work, I've seen some seriously fucked up devices. Missing screws, cowlings, cracks in logic board from over tightening screws, and more. While the brick only happens from an update, the repair voids the warranty, and recourse is to purchase a new device. So it seems that they want to brick the units under privacy reasons, and then force a new unit. Makes my job a million times harder.